As a sommelier and brewer, I can shed some light on the dating practices used by beer producers. When it comes to dating beers, there is no industry standard that dictates how brewers should label their products. However, most breweries opt for a “bottled on” format, which indicates the date when a specific beer was canned or bottled. It's important to note that this date does not necessarily indicate the expiration date of the beer.
When you pick up a can of beer, you may find the date stamped on the bottom of the can, on the side of the bottle, or even on the case itself. This date serves as a reference point for consumers and retailers to gauge the freshness of the beer, rather than indicating its expiration date.
The purpose of including a date on the packaging is to provide consumers with information about the beer's age. Freshness is crucial for certain beer styles, particularly those that are hop-forward, as hop flavors tend to degrade over time. By knowing the bottling or canning date, beer enthusiasts can make more informed decisions about their purchases.
It's worth mentioning that not all breweries choose to include a date on their packaging. Some smaller or niche breweries may rely on batch codes or other internal systems to track the freshness of their products. In such cases, it can be helpful to reach out to the brewery directly or consult their website for more information.
It's also important to note that while freshness is generally desirable in beer, certain styles, such as barrel-aged beers or sour ales, can benefit from some aging. These beers often have additional complexities that develop over time, enhancing their flavor profiles.
In my personal experience, I have come across a variety of date coding systems used by different breweries. Some breweries use clearly labeled “bottled on” dates, while others may use cryptic codes or batch numbers that require decoding. In these cases, it can be helpful to consult online resources or beer enthusiast communities to decipher the date and understand the beer's freshness.
To summarize, the date on the bottom of a beer can or bottle is usually a “bottled on” date, indicating when the beer was packaged. It is not necessarily an expiration date, but rather a reference point to gauge the beer's freshness. Understanding the dating practices used by individual breweries can help consumers make more informed decisions about their beer purchases and ensure they are enjoying the beer at its best.